Lamp assembly



' Jan. 23, 1968 I w. KOZIOL 3,

LAMP ASSEMBLY Original Filed Aug. 5, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 InventorWALTER Koz IOL 5a, 57 fm Jan. 23, 1968 w. KOZIOL 3,365,571

LAMP ASSEMBLY Original Filed Aug. 5, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IHI' v o 9Inverzcor 1 n 25 v I 20 16 WALTER KozloL W. KQZIOL LAMP ASSEMBLY Jan.23, 1968 -She et s 3 Sheets Original Filed Aug.

Inventor WALTER KOZlOL B5 72ml! 5.

a 1 ii I ll 4111i.

United States Patent ()fiice 3,365,571 LAMP ASSEMBLY Walter Koziol,Russell, Ill., assignor to (Iharmglow gi'pducts, Ina, Antioch, Ill., acorporation of I!!!)IS Continuation of application Ser. No. 477,469,Aug. 5, 1965. This application May 18, 1967, Ser. No. 639,586 19 Claims.(Cl. 240-412) ABSTRACT (IF THE DISCLOSURE A lamp assembly wherein apanel can be inserted and removed without fastening means or removal ofany parts or the top of the lamp and without lateral grooves. A frame isprovided with an opening in the top to receive the panel, and supportingsurfaces are disposed in the top and the bottom of the frame withprojections or grooves to prevent lateral displacement from the base.The panel rests against the upper support surface and on the base, yetthe opening in the top is sufficient to allow the panel to be inserted asufiicient distance to permit the lower portion of the panel to clearthe projections or grooves in the base.

This is a continuation of US. application Ser. No. 477,469, filed Aug.5, 1965, now abandoned in favor of the instant application.

This invention relates to a novel lamp assembly. More particularly, thisinvention relates to a simplified and easily removable panel member fora lamp.

The necessity of obtaining access into a yard-type lamp whether forcleaning, relamping in the instance of an electric lamp assembly,adjustment or maintenance of any type is presently a task requiring thehandling of many small parts such as screws, nuts and/or bolts as wellas the manipulating of numerous tools such as wrenches, pliers,screwdrivers, etc. Such parts as well as the tools are easily droppedand/or lost and much time is wasted looking for replacements. It is alsotrue that such parts may have become rusted or painted closed. Attemptsto overcome these problems are evidenced in US. 347,478 as well as inthe luminaire assembly shown in US. 3,170,635. However, these structuresrequire either special molding for hinge members or require enlargedscrew means and specially fitted parts to eliminate the previousproblems of handling small parts. It will be understood that even hingemembers and large screws have the disadvantages of becoming rusted orcovered with multi-layers of paint and thus present removal or operatingproblems.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novellamp assembly. It is another object of the present invention to providea novel lamp frame structure wherein a panel member is easily insertablein, freely carried by, and readily removable from said lamp structure.It is still another object of the present invention to provide a panelmember for a yard-type lamp which is easy to manufacture with a minimumamount of parts and with readily available equipment. It is a furtherobject of the present invention to provide a novel lamp structurewherein a panel member can be inserted or removed therefrom without anyaccessories or parts being loosened or hinges being required to bemoved. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide anovel lamp assembly wherein a panel member can be removed therefromwithout the need of tools.

The foregoing objects, and other objects which will be apparent from thefollowing disclosure, are now accomplished by the present inventionwhich is described in detail in the following description andillustrated in the attached drawing wherein:

3,3655% Patented Jan. 23, M368 FIGURES 1A, B, and C are perspectiveviews showing the sequence of steps in removing a panel of glass fromone of the embodiments of the novel lamp assembly of this presentinvention.

FIGURE 2 is a view in side elevation of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1and partially in vertical section to illustrate the positioning of theglass panel in the frame member.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view taken along line 33 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the base of the novel lamp assembly.

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal section view taken along line S5 of FIGURE 1A.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section taken along line 66of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGURE 8 is a view in vertical section taken along line 88 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along linelit-13 of FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken along line1111 of FIGURE 9.

Basically, the novel lamp assembly of the present invention comprisesone or more frame members carried 'by the lamp. The frame member isformed to accommodate a panel which is insertable into the frame andfreely carried therein. Means are disposed in the upper portion of theframe for receiving a top portion of the panel while the base portion ofthe frame is provided in the assembly for supporting the base of thepanel. Means are disposed in the base portion of the frame to preventthe base of the panel from moving olf the base portion of the frame. Themeans in the upper portion of the frame is adopted to allow a portion ofthe panel to pass therein sufiicient to permit the base of the panel toclear the means in the base of the frame. The panel is designed andconstructed to engage the means in the upper portion of the frame whenit rests by its own weight on the means in the base of the frame.

Proceeding to a detailed description of the present invention and inparticular the embodiment shown in FIG- URES l6: the novel lamp assemblygenerally 10' is supported by the usual cylindrical pole attachmentmember 11 on a T-shaped base generally 12 and is covered by the standardtop member generally 13. A four-sided illumination portion of atrapezoidal configuration generally 14 is composed of four corner posts15 joined at the top by four metal strip-like and flat bar members 16and 17. Each post 15 has two laterally extending flanges 20 which aredisposed a short distance inwardly from the outer surface 21 of theposts and on the side from a substantially fiat pane of glass 2 3 alsoof trapezoidal shape opposite bars 16 or 17. This is best shown inFIGURE 2.

As shown throughout FIGURES 2-6, base 12 comprises a main portion 18 andtwo side portions 38 which are integrally molded to two posts 15.Extending upwardly from base 12 from portions 38 adjacent posts 15 areprojecting means 25 which are in the same vertical plane as the innersurface of bars 16 or 17. Projecting means 25 serve to keep the bottomof pane 23 from moving outwardly off base 12. Extending between eachpost 15 are upwardly projecting ridges 27 which serve as a windbreak andalso keep the base of panel 23 from moving inwardly ofr base 12. Ridges27 fall within the same vertical plane as flanges Zil.

It will be noted that the base portions 38 as well as correspondingportions 19 in main frame 1-8 between projection means 25 are indentedas indicated at 30 and also have a centrally positioned groove 31. Thus,with pane 23 disposed between projections 25 and flanges 20 a portion ofthe base of the pane will be accessible either by a finger or a smallinstrument such as a pencil or a screwdriver.

One method of fabricating novel lamp assembly is to mold base portion 18from aluminum in one piece as indicated in FIGURE 4. Two frame membersgenerally 35, one of which is shown in FIGURE 3, are also molded fromaluminum in one piece each containing: two posts 15, a base portion 38,and two base projections 25 adjacent the corners of the posts 15. Moldedintegrally across the top of each frame 35 and joining two posts aremetal bars 16. A pair of locating tabs 37 upwardly extend from the baseportion 38 of each frame member and are accommodated by pairs of slots39, on opposite sides of main base 18. As best shown in FIGURE 2, eachbase portion 38 of frame 35 has a lower ledge 42 molded to slip beneathopposite sides of the main base 18 and when this is effected, tabs 37will form a coplanar continuation of ridges 27. With two frames 35 inthe previously described position, four spot welds 40 are made wheretabs coincide with grooves 39 and simultaneously two bar members 17 areplaced across the tops of posts 1 26 to complete a four frame structureof assembly 10 and welds are made at 41. It will be noted that each ofthe four frames is formed by two oppositely disposed flanges transversedby either bars 16 or 17 at the top and base portions 19 or 38 at thebottom. The roof 13 is placed on top bars 16 and 17 and also welded atthe same time. The roof 13 like the two frames 35, base 18 as well asbars 17 is molded from aluminum. For best results, lamp assembly 10 isdesigned so that the inner surface of bars 16 or 17 contacting pane 23has an outward angle in the range of about 10 to 20 with an angle of 14being preferred.

The novel and superior results of the present lamp assembly are seen inthe three simple procedures taken to remove panel 23 from anaccommodating frame such as 35 in assembly 10. A finger 45 is insertedinto groove 31 (FIGURE 1A) and moved upwardly to contact the bottom edge46 of pane 23. Upward movement is continued until bottom edge 46 clearsover projections 25. Pane 23 is then moved outwardly (FIGURE 1B) and thefree hand is used to grip the pane (FIGURE 1C) and move it downwardlyand out from between posts 15. To replace pane 23 the previouslyreferred to steps are merely reversed. It should be noted, however, thatflanges 20 have enlarged upper portions 4-7 terminated short of bar 16to allow the upper and widest portion of pane 23, as shown by 48, to bereadily inserted through a channel formed between the upper ledge 49 ofportion 47 and the lower surface 50* of bar 16. The upper portion 48 ofpane 23 is inserted a short distance with portion 47 serving as a guideuntil the bottom 46 clears projections at which point pane 23 is alignedin a plane parallel with bars 16 or 17 and projections 25 and pane 23allowed to rest on base 12. Pane 23 is cut so that about athree-sixteenths inch portion rests outwardly against bar such as 16while resting on base 12. It will be noted that an unencumbered innersurface is provided by bars 16 and 17 for pane 23 to be raised orlowered therealong. Further, pane 23 is cut to be accommodated betweenlateral faces 51 of posts 15. A glass pane of one-eighth inch thicknesswith fivethirty seconds inch clearance between the inner faces oflateral flanges 20 and projections 25 have been found to work well. Theheight of the pane 23 is about seven and three-quarters inches and thepane 23 weighs about eight and one-half ounces. This serves to keep pane2-3 from being rattled by the wind as some clearance is allowed betweenthe lateral ledges of pane 23 and faces 51 to allow for expansion fromheat of a gas mantle.

Turning now to the embodiment shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, the lampassembly generally 60 like assembly 10 has the usual T-shapedrectangular base generally 61 with pole receiving member 62, and a topportion generally 63. An illumination section generally 65 is alsocomposed of four glass panel members of trapezoidal shape, and in apreferred manner, one is removable and shown at 66 and the threeremaining panels, one of which is illustrated at 68, are permanentlysecured in assembly 60 between four corner posts such as 70. Atrapezoidal piece of glass 71 enclosed by frame 72 composes permanentpanels 68. As the present invention is concerned with removal of panel66 it will be described in more detail, it being understood that lampassembly 69 can be provided with one or more removable panels such aspanel 66 and the remaining sides of the illumination section can beframed in any suitable manner.

A glass pane 75 of trapezoidal configuration comprises panel member 66which is permanently secured in a frame 76 formed by a top portion 77, abottom portion 78 and two lateral portions 79. The fastening of theglass to the frame is effected by clips screwed into the frame on theinside. A transversely disposed tongue member 80 projects from topportion 77 and is accommodated by groove 81 transversely disposed in thetop portion 82 of illumination section 65. Bottom portion 78 of panel 66is provided with a U-shaped groove 83 for seating on ridge member 35transversely disposed across base 61 between two adjacent posts 70. Twolaterally extending flanges 86, similar to flanges 20 of assembly 10,are recessed from the face of posts 70 so that when the back surfaces oflateral portions 79 rest against flanges 86 the outer surfaces of posts70 and of lateral portions 79 are substantially coplanar.

The removal of panel member 66 from assembly 60 is very similar to thatfor assembly 10. To remove panel 66 from the accommodating frame 87formed by top portion 82 flanges 86 and base 61, a finger is insertedinto groove 83 formed in base 61 to contact the base 78 of frame 76. Anupward lift is imparted until surface 89 clears ridge 83, suflicientspace being allowed in groove 81 to allow tongue 86 to also moveupwardly for the required distance. With surface 89 above ridge 85, onemerely moves base 78 outwardly until the entire base 78 of frame 76clears ridge and then permits frame 76 to fall until tongue 80 is nolonger in contact with groove 81. To reinsert frame 76 into theaccommodating frame 87 carried by lamp assembly 60, the preceding stepsare merely reversed. It should be noted that tongue 89 is of sufficientlength to engage groove 81 when ridge 85 engages groove 83. If desired,all four panels can be made removable by designing the illuminationsection 65 of the lamp to receive a removable panel such as described inthe manner for panel 66.

Turning to the embodiment of FIGURES 9-11, lamp assembly generally 90like assemblies 10 and 60 is of the same geometric design and comprisesthe usual base, illumination and top portions generally 91, 92 and 93,respectively. Assembly 96 is similar to assembly 10 in that a glasspanel 95 without a frame or tongues or grooves is insertable in andfreely carried by a frame generally 96 carried by assembly 90. Four suchframes are formed by one wall 97 of rectangular base 91, two integrallysecured corner posts 98 with recessed laterally disposed flanges 99 withaccommodating faces 1-91 for panels 95 extending in substantially thesame manner as flanges 20 of embodiment It). A top bar-like member 100extending between two posts 98 completes the four-sided trapezoidalframe 96.

As best seen in FIGURE 11, base wall 97 has a portion thereof formedinwardly and upwardly to provide a combined ledge 102 and access meansto the bottom portion 103 of glass panel 35. it will be noted that panel95 is cut so that when the base portion 163 rests on ledge 162 andconsequently a relatively short distance below the upper edge 105 ofwall 37, a top portion 106 of panel 95 contacts bar 100 and extends ashort distance beyond the lower edge 107 of bar 100. A complete closureis formed by the lateral edges of panel 95 overlapping flanges 99.

Bar 100, as it true with top portion 82 of assembly 60 with respect toits base 61, is in the same plane as the base wall 97 and disposedoutwardly at an angle of about 14 from base 91. This causes panel 95 asWell as panel 66 to have their respective top portions 106 and 77 restoutwardly against their respective top bar members 100 and 82.

The removal of panel 95 from assembly 90 is very similar to thatdescribed for the other embodiments. The base 163 of panel 95 is engagedby a pencil tip or finger and moved upwardly until it clears the upperedge 105 of base wall 97 at which point base 103 is moved outwardly andover base wall 97 and panel 95 allowed to drop outwardly from lamp frame96. To insert panel 95 back into lamp frame 96, the process is merelyreversed with top portion 106 of panel 95 inserted between the slightlyenlarged sections 110 of posts 93, and when base portion 103 clears edge105 of base wall 97 it is merely let down until it engages ledge 162.

Lamp assembly 90 like the other embodiments has a pole receiving member113. Assembly 90 with the exception of panel 95 is made of rivetedcopper and suitable bracing 103 extends between member 113 and theunderside of base 91. An ordinary gas mantle 112 is shown in phantom inassembly 90 and is the preferred lighting means for illuminatingassemblies and 60. It will 'be understood that the usual electric lightsocket and bulb can also be employed with all of the embodiments of thepresent novel lamp assembly.

Assembly 60 like assembly 19 is made of cast aluminum although anysuitable metal can be employed and the parts welded, riveted or screwedtogether.

As previously indicated, enlarged portions 110 are disposed in posts 98and consequently in the frame 96 which accommodates panel 95. This isdue to the fact that panel 95 is of a trapezoidal configuration and thetop largest portion 196 will be more easily inserted between top baritlti and the upper edges 111 of flanges 99 which extend substantiallythe entire distance from base wall 97 to top wall 1%. The same remarksare true regarding assembly 1% and assembly 60, although not shown indetail therein.

While embodiments 1G, 6G and 90 disclose four-sided paneled trapezoidaltype assemblies, which geometrical configurations are most popular, thepresent assembly is operable in any polysided lamp assembly havingpolygonal panels such as rectangular, square or triangular.

It will thus be seen that through the present invention a novel lampassembly is provided wherein a panel member is easily inserted into andremoved therefrom without the need of hinges, screws, latches or othertypes of common pivoting and fastening means. Corrosion and paint is nolonger a problem in removing a panel member. The novel assembly iseasily and economically manufactored without special tooling and parts.And with respect to gas lamps, the panel is removable without disturbingthe mantle which allows a person to keep the glass clean without turningoff the gas and breaking the mantle in the process.

The foregoing invention can now be practiced by those skilled in theart. Such skilled persons will know that the invention is notnecessarily restricted to the particular embodiments presented herein.The scope of the invention is to be defined by the terms of thefollowing claims as given meaning by the preceding description.

I ciaim:

1. A lamp assembly comprising: a frame, a panel insertable in and freelycarried by said frame, said frame comprising a top member presenting aninner surface for contact with an upper portion of said panel, a baseportion in said frame supporting the base of said panel, means mountedon said base to prevent the base of said panel from moving horizontallyoff the base portion of said frame, substantially vertically disposedspaced side members extending between said top member and said basemember, said side members presenting opposing lateral faces foraccommodating said panel and confining movement therebetween, laterallyextending flanges mounted on each said side member and disposed in thesame vertical plane inwardly of said lateral faces to freely permitinsertion and withdrawal of the top portion of said panel between saidinner surface and said flanges at the top of said frame, said innersurface of said top member and said mounted means in said base portionbeing the sole retentive means for preventing movement of said paneloutwardly from said lamp assembly, said inner surface and said flangesadapted to allow a portion of said panel to pass upwardly therebetweensuficient to permit the panel to be in substantial vertical alignmenttherewith for subsequent retention by said mounted means in said baseportion, said panel constructed and arranged to engage said innersurface of said top member in one instance and a portion of said flangemembers in another instance when said panel rests by its own weight onsaid base portion.

2. The lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein an indented portion is providedin the base of said frame and said panel can be removed from said framesolely by means of contact with the panel through said indented portion.

3. The lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein said inner surface defining saidopening in said upper portion is at an outward angle in the range ofabout 10 to about 20 from said base portion.

4. The lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein said lateral flanges aredisposed substantially the entire distance between the top member andthe base portion.

5. The lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein said panel is composed solely ofglass.

6. The lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein said panel comprises a piece ofglass retained in an integral frame adapted to fit in the frame memberof said assembly.

7. A lamp assembly comprising: a frame, a panel insertable in and freelycarried by said frame, said frame comprising a top bar member presentingan inner surface for contact with an upper portion of said panel, a baseportion in said frame supporting the base of said panel, projectingmeans integral with and positioned at the corners of said base portionto prevent the base of said panel from moving horizontally off said baseportion of said frame, substantially vertically disposed spaced sidemembers extending between said top bar member and said base member, saidside members presenting opposing lateral faces for accommodating saidpanel and being the sole means for confining movement therebetween,laterally extending flanges mounted on each said side member anddisposed in the same vertical plane inwardly of said inner surface insaid top bar member to freely permit insertion and withdrawal of the topportion of said panel between said inner surface and said flanges at thetop of said frame, said inner surface of said top bar member and saidintegral means in said base portion being the sole retentive means forpreventing movement of said panel outwardly from said lamp assembly,said inner surface and said flanges adapted to allow a portion of saidpanel to pass upwardly therebetween sufficient to permit the base ofsaid panel to pass over and clear said projecting means in said baseportion, said panel constructed and arranged to engage said innersurface of said top bar member in one instance and a portion of saidflange members in another instance when said panel rests by its ownweight on said base portion.

8. The lamp assembly of claim 7 wherein said means projecting upwardlyfrom said base and said bar are in the same plane and said plane is atan angle in the range of about 10 to about 20 from said base portion.

9. The lamp assembly of claim 7 wherein said lateral flange membersextend substantially the entire distance from top to bottom of saidframe.

10. The lamp assembly of claim 7 further including a raised partitionextending substantially across said base and behind said panel.

11. The lamp assembly of claim 7 wherein the panel member is looselyfitted in the frame laterally as well as between the upward projectingmeans in the front of said base and the laterally extending flangemembers in the rear.

12. The lamp assembly of claim 7 wherein four of said frame members arejoined in horizontal rectangular crosssection comprising the entirelurninating portion of said lamp and said frame members and said panelsare trapezoidal in vertical cross-section.

13. A lamp assembly comprising: a first frame, a second frame enclosinga panel adapted to be freely carried by and insertable within said firstframe, a base portion in said first frame, an extending member and agroove member adapted for interengagement positioned in and on the baseportion of said first frame and the bottom of said second frame, atongue member and a groove member adapted for interengagement disposedin and on the top portion of said first frame and the top of said secondframe, substantially vertically disposed spaced side members comprisingsaid first frame and extending between said top member and said basemember, said side members presenting opposing lateral faces foraccommodating said second panel and being the sole means for confiningmovement therebetween, said upper tongue and groove members and saidextending and groove members in the base portions of said frames beingthe sole retentive means for preventing movement of said second frameoutwardly from said lamp assembly, said top tongue and groove membersadapted to allow a portion of said second frame to move upwardly in saidfirst frame sufficient to permit the extending member to be seated inthe groove member in the base and bottom portions, said second frameconstructed and arranged to permit interengagement between the uppertongue and groove members and the extending and groove members in thebase and bottom portions When said second frame rests by its own weighton said base portion of said first frame.

14. The lamp assembly of claim 13 wherein laterally extending flangesare integral with each said side member and are disposed in the samevertical plane inwardly of the lateral faces to free-1y permit insertionand withdrawal of said tongue member in said upper groove member andsaid lateral flange members extend substantially the entire distancefrom top to bottom of said frame and rearwardly of said second frame.

15. The lamp assembly of claim 13 wherein said second frame freely restsin said first frame at an outward angle in the range of about to aboutfrom the bottom of said first frame, said upper tongue member extendingfrom the upper portion of said second frame member and said projectionmember extending upwardly from the base of said first frame.

16. A lamp asembly comprising: a frame, a panel insertable in and freelycarried by said frame, said frame comprising a top bar member presentingan inner surface for contact with an upper portion of said panel, a baseportion in said frame comprising an upwardly extending wall, a portionof said wall formed to provide a ledge to support the bottom of saidpanel as well as provide access thereto, substantially verticallydisposed spaced side members extending between said top member and saidbase member, said side members presenting opposing lateral faces foraccommodating said panel and being the sole means for confining movementtherebetween, laterally extending flanges integral with each side memberand disposed in the same Vertical plane inwardly of said inner surfacein said top bar member to freely permit insertion and withdrawal of thetop portion of said panel between said inner surface and said flanges atthe top of said frame, said inner surface of said top bar member andsaid wall in said base being the sole retentive means for preventingmovement of sail panel outwardly from said lamp assembly, said innersurface and said flanges adapted to allow a portion of said panel topass upwardly therebetween sufiicient to permit the base of said panelto pass over and clear said upwardly extending wall in said baseportion, said panel constructed and arranged to engage the inner surfaceof said top bar member in one instance and a portion of said flangemembers in another instance when said panel rests by its own weight onsaid ledge in said base portion.

17. The lamp assembly of claim 16 wherein said base wall and said barare in the same plane and said plane is at an angle in the range ofabout 10 to about 20 from the base of said lamp assembly.

18. The lamp assembly of claim 16 wherein said lateral flange membersextend substantially the entire distance from top to bottom of saidframe.

19. The lamp assembly of claim 16 wherein said portion in said wall insaid base portion forming said ledge provides access by a finger toengage a portion of said panel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 165,361 7/1875 Norris 240-25221,877 11/1879 Taylor 24025 1,961,584 6/1934 Hathorn 49-463 FOREIGNPATENTS 97,006 5/ 1 898 Germany.

1,534 5/1869 Great Britain. 1,819 1/1884 Great Britain. 2,681 3/ 1902Great Britain.

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

J. F. PETERS, W. M. FRYE, Assistant Examiners

